At the natural foods grocery store, I heard some retired government employees bragging about the expensive wine and food they are serving their guests. The clerk, who makes $12 an hour, found out they were teachers.

If the money we spend on public education is a good investment, where is the ROI?

Where is the competition in that sector? Now is the time to unlock the potential of small business to unleash the productive capacity of our youth. Maintaining the status quo in public education is, of course, a form of liberal elitism. The coming budget cuts in some states will provide an excellent opportunity for citizens and private companies to provide creative solutions.

Obviously, the level of economic ingorance in this country is scary. Folks who are trained in money need to find a way to try to raise that level. First, we need to implore our politicians to remove the conflicts of interest in public education. That is like asking a wolf to guard the chickens, but it should be easier in our local communities than at the state or national level.

Anyone here who cares should check out programs like Junior Achievement, or even First Tee, to try to give back a little. Talking to teenagers a little about the truth ( like, why do you think a lot of early immigrants ran cash businesses, do you think you could start your own business?) can go a long way.

hmmm

The pursuit of populist pussiest political policy (elitist economic pussydom):

1. Marginalize the majority for the good of all. Witness, in the name of race, the majority of Americans who support the right for Arizona to control her borders - the President of the United States stands in front of us and watches while the President of Mexico lectures Americans on fairness at the border. We get another lecture on how laws may be used to hurt people of color.

2. Hooded American moms arrive in Iran to visit their children, who have been captured and held prisoner after hiking near Iran. This is an example of our state department sanctioning American Pussydom for the  Middle Eastern media.

3. Meanwhile, China won't support economic sanctions against nuclear proliferation in Iran. Instead of calling in our chips with China ( like, we're going to slap a tariff on some of those shoes and clothes made by economic slave kids unless you support our peaceful effort to control nuclear proliferation in the Arab world) - we issue more debt to China in order to finance progressive pussyism, including maintaining the status quo on Social Security (ironic name) and Medicare, and increasing health care coverage while ignoring costs.

4. Instead of cutting payroll taxes for small business, which can create 70% of new jobs, the elite economic pussies central economic decision making (economic choices), spending, investment - to takeover massive corporations and fund "stimulus" spending by directing our capital to chosen entities.

5. Wait until you see the effect of the expiration of the tax cuts in 2011. New and hidden elitist taxes will further fund pussydist policies. The small business guy holds on to his capital, instead of paying more for health care, in an uncertain environment, where the prospect of new value - added taxes, and the cost of capital itself (what happens to interest rates when the value of your currency declines in an inflationary environment, what happens when you take out a loan, and other world currencies are failing and the dollar is strengthening against your ability to export). I need to be fiscally responsible, but my government knows best on  how to decide for the economically downtrodden of America.

6. How many of us have boomer clients, who were downsized, who have decided to retire early, or collect unemployment and start early Social Security? How many folks today have decided to try to collect Social Security disability? How often are we lectured that we don't pay our teachers enough, even though we pay twice the amount per public school student as the cost for some private schools ( like, schools run in existing real estate, like churches). All examples of the populist pussiest political-economic policy.

[quote=Milyunair]

At the natural foods grocery store, I heard some retired government employees bragging about the expensive wine and food they are serving their guests. The clerk, who makes $12 an hour, found out they were teachers.

If the money we spend on public education is a good investment, where is the ROI?

Where is the competition in that sector? Now is the time to unlock the potential of small business to unleash the productive capacity of our youth. Maintaining the status quo in public education is, of course, a form of liberal elitism. The coming budget cuts in some states will provide an excellent opportunity for citizens and private companies to provide creative solutions.

Obviously, the level of economic ingorance in this country is scary. Folks who are trained in money need to find a way to try to raise that level. First, we need to implore our politicians to remove the conflicts of interest in public education. That is like asking a wolf to guard the chickens, but it should be easier in our local communities than at the state or national level.

Anyone here who cares should check out programs like Junior Achievement, or even First Tee, to try to give back a little. Talking to teenagers a little about the truth ( like, why do you think a lot of early immigrants ran cash businesses, do you think you could start your own business?) can go a long way.

[/quote]

Education will never be like a business because the "employees" you are talking about are kids.

What is the conflict of interest in public education? Public education is a great example of what is possible and how the world works:

You must apply your self to succeed(isn't that what we want). Sure you can get a bad teacher(manager in real world) but that shouldn't have an outcome on your ability to apply yourself. And then you are on to the next level as long as you achieve passing marks at the previous level(no politics like in a real job).

The problem with the public education system is the product of it is "average". In a global economy, average does not support your current lifestyle.

You pay for it, this is your investment. If the return on your investment is average, over a long period of time, and someone else is getting above average returns, how will you compete?

Example: a client tells me the average reading level for high schoolers in a public school in Michigan has been tested at third or fourth grade. After age eight, or whatever, the social stigma of learning offsets the benefits ( its not cool to learn).

Average that in with someone who does well in public school, and take that out to the economy. ( Let the good learner succeed in business, and tax him to pay for the third grade adult).

" The system" says, go ahead and pass these kids up to the higher level, because the social stigma of not passing a grade - flunking - is too great. This is devastating to the emotional development of the child. The parents get pissed, and make trouble for the administration.

Unionization of the system is like opium. You get a certain amount of money, and benefits, and rights. I asked a teacher why we need unions, she said, there is too much politics in an organization where you have a lot of teachers and only one principal. Fairness needs to be protected. I can understand this point.

But, after WW II, the best and the bright women went into teaching. As women moved into the broader work force, the quality of teachers declined, as more average women moved into the work force. The arguement that we should spend more on education is strictly correct ( better people) but it is corrupted to mean more mediocrity, which cannot prevail economically.

Change is hard, even moving your office when the lease comes up is a pain, and the landlord knows it.

The lie of hope and change is cruel and ironic. Real hope and change for education would mean more opportunity for small business, a better product for the economy, a better return on your investment capital. Don't you believe in the tax money you are obligated to pay?

The real lie about hope and change is, as long as there is economic ignorance, Americans are powerless to fulfill their destiny. Needless to say, it is ironic when professionals who are trained about money perpetuate the myth that hope alone will change America, that a vague sense of guilt about your own success and the politically correct support of wealth redistribution will somehow ensure that life gets better, or that we will even survive as a free nation.

Freedom and dignity  spring  from exceptionalism, not mediocrity. Yet we continue down the path of institiutionalizing the status quo, at great danger. Who are the leaders in our industry, are we good stewards of our knowledge and experience? Economic education is crucial.

Perhaps other here have children who come home and talk about teachers: good teachers, and bad. Teachers complaining that they are underpaid ( it's okay to keep a job and take money and complain and not change yourself). History textbooks that are rambling and progressive ( how many times do you need to learn lessons about race in America?).  Economic lies ( I took this job because business is dirty.) Drunken college professors, with tenure.

You reap what you sow. In a competitive world economy, with seven billion hungry mouths, the product of mediocrity is a failure to maintain your way of life, or a failure to improve.

[quote=squash2]

[quote=Milyunair]

At the natural foods grocery store, I heard some retired government employees bragging about the expensive wine and food they are serving their guests. The clerk, who makes $12 an hour, found out they were teachers.

If the money we spend on public education is a good investment, where is the ROI?

Where is the competition in that sector? Now is the time to unlock the potential of small business to unleash the productive capacity of our youth. Maintaining the status quo in public education is, of course, a form of liberal elitism. The coming budget cuts in some states will provide an excellent opportunity for citizens and private companies to provide creative solutions.

Obviously, the level of economic ingorance in this country is scary. Folks who are trained in money need to find a way to try to raise that level. First, we need to implore our politicians to remove the conflicts of interest in public education. That is like asking a wolf to guard the chickens, but it should be easier in our local communities than at the state or national level.

Anyone here who cares should check out programs like Junior Achievement, or even First Tee, to try to give back a little. Talking to teenagers a little about the truth ( like, why do you think a lot of early immigrants ran cash businesses, do you think you could start your own business?) can go a long way.

[/quote]

Education will never be like a business because the "employees" you are talking about are kids.

Seriously? Are you a tax payer and a financial advisor? The kids are the products.

What is the conflict of interest in public education? Public education is a great example of what is possible and how the world works:

Public education is a great example of a failed investment in the equity most needed to ensure America's economic success and survivial. As a financial advisor, you need to prove that it is an exceptional investment, if make claims.

Do you seriously believe that the American public education system is exceptionally successful? Prove it.  I see America struggling to produce knowledge workers, in fact, look at the number of immigrant knowledge workers.

On the other hand, public schools produce an entitlement mentality. Folks should not have to do physical labor. Look at illegal immigration.

Voters who vote for their hearts instead of their long-term economic security are mostly uneducated, or have average perception or experience. In many cases, political correctness is necessary for short term survival. If you are not a teacher, and you're an investor, why don't you question the investment performance. Because your wife is a teacher and you're looking at thirty years of pension payments?

You must apply your self to succeed(isn't that what we want). Sure you can get a bad teacher(manager in real world) but that shouldn't have an outcome on your ability to apply yourself. And then you are on to the next level as long as you achieve passing marks at the previous level(no politics like in a real job).

That's like saying, people need financial advisors, but if they get a bad one, they should be able to do okay anyway.

Only with teachers, you have a third party paying. What do kids inherently know about applying themselves that is not learned?

Teachers unions were formed to deal with politics (unfairness and equality).  

[/quote]

Why are you so willing to give education a free pass, anyway? Most of our tax money goes to Education, Social Security, and Medicare.

Which one of those is most likely to give us a better return on investment?

So now we have a bond peddler, on the RR forum, who is attacking a man who questions the lies of liberal elitism, by calling the man an idot.

I don't claim to know the reasons. Is is ignorance, self-interest, selflessness for the greater good, or guilt defending success gleaned from a declining system, or hubris, or straight compassion for the status quo and the masses? Doesn't really matter. It is aggressive, and the claim is a lie. Beck is not an idiot, Beck is a hero, in the sense that he is protecting what it is that made us (still) a great nation.

[quote=Milyunair]

[quote=squash2]

[quote=Milyunair]

At the natural foods grocery store, I heard some retired government employees bragging about the expensive wine and food they are serving their guests. The clerk, who makes $12 an hour, found out they were teachers.

If the money we spend on public education is a good investment, where is the ROI?

Where is the competition in that sector? Now is the time to unlock the potential of small business to unleash the productive capacity of our youth. Maintaining the status quo in public education is, of course, a form of liberal elitism. The coming budget cuts in some states will provide an excellent opportunity for citizens and private companies to provide creative solutions.

Obviously, the level of economic ingorance in this country is scary. Folks who are trained in money need to find a way to try to raise that level. First, we need to implore our politicians to remove the conflicts of interest in public education. That is like asking a wolf to guard the chickens, but it should be easier in our local communities than at the state or national level.

Anyone here who cares should check out programs like Junior Achievement, or even First Tee, to try to give back a little. Talking to teenagers a little about the truth ( like, why do you think a lot of early immigrants ran cash businesses, do you think you could start your own business?) can go a long way.

[/quote]

Education will never be like a business because the "employees" you are talking about are kids.

Seriously? Are you a tax payer and a financial advisor? The kids are the products.

I think that is where we have a problem. In order for a teacher to succeed they must have willing participants. Kids are not the products, what kids do is the product(Like consulting). 

What is the conflict of interest in public education? Public education is a great example of what is possible and how the world works:

Public education is a great example of a failed investment in the equity most needed to ensure America's economic success and survivial. As a financial advisor, you need to prove that it is an exceptional investment, if make claims.

Do you seriously believe that the American public education system is exceptionally successful? Prove it.  I see America struggling to produce knowledge workers, in fact, look at the number of immigrant knowledge workers.

On the other hand, public schools produce an entitlement mentality. Folks should not have to do physical labor. Look at illegal immigration.

Voters who vote for their hearts instead of their long-term economic security are mostly uneducated, or have average perception or experience. In many cases, political correctness is necessary for short term survival. If you are not a teacher, and you're an investor, why don't you question the investment performance. Because your wife is a teacher and you're looking at thirty years of pension payments?

WHat is the alternative??? People still come to this country to attend our universities and colleges... Doctors,lawyers etc aren't going to the University of China to learn about anything..

 You must apply your self to succeed(isn't that what we want). Sure you can get a bad teacher(manager in real world) but that shouldn't have an outcome on your ability to apply yourself. And then you are on to the next level as long as you achieve passing marks at the previous level(no politics like in a real job).

That's like saying, people need financial advisors, but if they get a bad one, they should be able to do okay anyway.

Only with teachers, you have a third party paying. What do kids inherently know about applying themselves that is not learned?

Teachers unions were formed to deal with politics (unfairness and equality).

A financial advisor is useless if the individual has no money.... Same with teachers if the kid does not put forth the effort.

The third party paying is because they don't want to live in a neighborhood with crime and violence because the schools are crappy... You can live anywhere you want, thus affecting your property taxes(school funding), why live in a nice neighborhood and pay more, just build a house in a district that has lower property taxes..

I agree teachers unions wer formed to deal with politics, because as a teacher you don't get to pick(as advisors do) who you work with. So paying a teacher on the ability of the student is stupid.

[/quote]

Why are you so willing to give education a free pass, anyway? Most of our tax money goes to Education, Social Security, and Medicare.

Which one of those is most likely to give us a better return on investment?

I would argue all of them..

[/quote]

[quote=Milyunair]

The problem with the public education system is the product of it is "average" How is that any different from our world.,?. In a global economy, average does not support your current lifestyle.

You pay for it, this is your investment. If the return on your investment is average, over a long period of time, and someone else is getting above average returns, how will you compete?

Example: a client tells me the average reading level for high schoolers in a public school in Michigan has been tested at third or fourth grade. After age eight, or whatever, the social stigma of learning offsets the benefits ( its not cool to learn). That is because parents think they should ship there kids to school and not worry about anything else...

Average that in with someone who does well in public school, and take that out to the economy. ( Let the good learner succeed in business, and tax him to pay for the third grade adult).

" The system" says, go ahead and pass these kids up to the higher level, because the social stigma of not passing a grade - flunking - is too great. This is devastating to the emotional development of the child. The parents get pissed, and make trouble for the administration.

Unionization of the system is like opium. You get a certain amount of money, and benefits, and rights. I asked a teacher why we need unions, she said, there is too much politics in an organization where you have a lot of teachers and only one principal. Fairness needs to be protected. I can understand this point.

But, after WW II, the best and the bright women went into teaching. As women moved into the broader work force, the quality of teachers declined, as more average women moved into the work force. The arguement that we should spend more on education is strictly correct ( better people) but it is corrupted to mean more mediocrity, which cannot prevail economically.

Change is hard, even moving your office when the lease comes up is a pain, and the landlord knows it.

The lie of hope and change is cruel and ironic. This is capitalism....Real hope and change for education would mean more opportunity for small business, a better product for the economy, a better return on your investment capital. Don't you believe in the tax money you are obligated to pay?

The real lie about hope and change is, as long as there is economic ignorance, Americans are powerless to fulfill their destiny. Needless to say, it is ironic when professionals who are trained about money perpetuate the myth that hope alone will change America, that a vague sense of guilt about your own success and the politically correct support of wealth redistribution will somehow ensure that life gets better, or that we will even survive as a free nation.

Freedom and dignity  spring  from exceptionalism, not mediocrity. Yet we continue down the path of institiutionalizing the status quo, at great danger. Who are the leaders in our industry, are we good stewards of our knowledge and experience? Economic education is crucial.

Perhaps other here have children who come home and talk about teachers: good teachers, and bad. Teachers complaining that they are underpaid ( it's okay to keep a job and take money and complain and not change yourself). History textbooks that are rambling and progressive ( how many times do you need to learn lessons about race in America?Maybe once it gets solved....).  Economic lies ( I took this job because business is dirty.) Drunken college professors, with tenure(Bad advisors with mutual fund wrap programs.... the problems exist inside everything).

You reap what you sow. In a competitive world economy, with seven billion hungry mouths, the product of mediocrity is a failure to maintain your way of life, or a failure to improve.

[/quote]

You have written these long elaborate posts, yet fail to mention what specific changes you would make.... Are you a politician?? Selling on fear and about how the other side has it wrong?

If you don't like public school, send your kid to private school.

[quote=Milyunair]

The pursuit of populist pussiest political policy (elitist economic pussydom):

1. Marginalize the majority for the good of all. Witness, in the name of race, the majority of Americans who support the right for Arizona to control her borders - the President of the United States stands in front of us and watches while the President of Mexico lectures Americans on fairness at the border. We get another lecture on how laws may be used to hurt people of color.

2. Hooded American moms arrive in Iran to visit their children, who have been captured and held prisoner after hiking near Iran. This is an example of our state department sanctioning American Pussydom for the  Middle Eastern media.

3. Meanwhile, China won't support economic sanctions against nuclear proliferation in Iran. Instead of calling in our chips with China ( like, we're going to slap a tariff on some of those shoes and clothes made by economic slave kids unless you support our peaceful effort to control nuclear proliferation in the Arab world) - we issue more debt to China in order to finance progressive pussyism, including maintaining the status quo on Social Security (ironic name) and Medicare, and increasing health care coverage while ignoring costs.

4. Instead of cutting payroll taxes for small business, which can create 70% of new jobs, This is biggest bunch of crap ever... They are small business they aren't going to hire 1,000 people... maybe 1 over the next 15 years the elite economic pussies central economic decision making (economic choices), spending, investment - to takeover massive corporations and fund "stimulus" spending by directing our capital to chosen entities.

5. Wait until you see the effect of the expiration of the tax cuts in 2011. New and hidden elitist taxes will further fund pussydist policies. The small business guy holds on to his capital, instead of paying more for health care, in an uncertain environment, where the prospect of new value - added taxes, and the cost of capital itself (what happens to interest rates when the value of your currency declines in an inflationary environment, what happens when you take out a loan, and other world currencies are failing and the dollar is strengthening against your ability to export). I need to be fiscally responsible, but my government knows best on  how to decide for the economically downtrodden of America.

6. How many of us have boomer clients, who were downsized, who have decided to retire early, or collect unemployment and start early Social Security? How many folks today have decided to try to collect Social Security disability? How often are we lectured that we don't pay our teachers enough, even though we pay twice the amount per public school student as the cost for some private schools ( like, schools run in existing real estate, like churches). All examples of the populist pussiest political-economic policy.

[/quote]

I knew i recognized your username.. you are Randy Weaver...

4. Instead of cutting payroll taxes for small business, which can create 70% of new jobs, This is biggest bunch of crap ever... They are small business they aren't going to hire 1,000 people... maybe 1 over the next 15 years the elite economic pussies central economic decision making (economic choices), spending, investment - to takeover massive corporations and fund "stimulus" spending by directing our capital to chosen entities.

Check this out:

" Fact - The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), taking into account the quarterly changes in job creation from all firms over a 12 year period, indicate that 60 to 80 percent of net new jobs come from small business. "

http://www.chamberpost.com/2009/07/small-business-big-truth.html

Consider taking a little time to educate yourself on the basics, this is pretty much my entire point. Makes the "stimulus" ( which really went to sustain government during the recession) look pretty silly, when you start to understand the economy a little.

I don't care to debate your BS. I write to clarify my own thoughts and provoke others to think for themselves.

My name is not Randy Weaver, here or in real life. If that is a real name and you are trying to expose someone on an anonymous forum, I guess that helps reveal  your character. I guess I shall have to lie low, and you can go back to the status quo. I stand by my words, but I'm running a business, too.

If that is the case, in terms of having a meaningful forum, you are just pulling your own pud. You resort to deconstructionism, which is just like calling Beck an idiot and hiding behind sarcasm and your own ignorance. Attack the man, not the words.

Maybe I can find somewhere else to think and write.

This is a market. It would be nice if folks could regulate their own behavior and play nice, but it is still a market. It could be nice, like a farmer's market selling organic, local produce, or it can be raunchy. As for  the U.S. economy, you will probably not be able to or understand or  see a lot of how folks adapt to the new realities. Many of us are in the process of getting in touch with where we stand with regard to the new realities, and will need to respond in a rational manner. Sorry to pontificate,but this is my thread for the moment.

To answer your question, the solution is simple: reduce public spending, and cut taxes. You have to take money away from people in order to spend, unless you borrow the money. I can understand borrowing against lost tax revenues during a recession, in the typical Keynesian sense ( do you know who that is?).

I could see using tariffs on imported goods, only if we cut taxes and reduce government spending. China and the world will not fall apart. The reason GM is given billions is to save union jobs, you could build an electric car in your garage if you had a good battery. Obama has sold out the promise of hope and change, most supporters have not even figured that out yet.

Good luck.

As soon as I hear the word LIBERAL or SOCIALIST, I know that the speaker is a narrow minded idiot. Many of the issues the speaker is talking about were caused during the CONSERVATIVE administration. Remember, any idiot can complain.

Randy Weaver is the guy from Ruby Ridge(Hated the gov't though country was falling apart, moved to idaho to home school his children)..

How can you say the gov't doesn't know what to do then quote a gov't report to support your ideas..?

You got me on all counts. I'm really just a dumb neck.  " A thoughtful and well-reasoned response to my blatherings. " An A for the day. You get one of those little soccer trophies just for showing up. Thanks for kicking my a$$.

Wow, navet, whoever knew? The best defense is name calling. You help make this a really intelligent forum.

 I guess I can redeploy my energy now. Good bye.

Cutting taxes have been the conservative mantra since Reagan(actually since Eisenhower). The problem is that since taxes have been cut, middle class has shrunk while the wealthy have grown. It is dangerous for a society to marginalize classes. While large scale public debt certainly isn't the answer(long term), lately it has been the lesser of two evils. Going forward, the only answer is to grow our economy out of this mess. Yet, how we attempt to do this will be critically important. We can't trust large multi-national companies to do what is best for our economy. This is particularly true for financial companies who led the world to the brink of financial collapse with their greed and group stupidity. What we need are political leaders with the intelligence and guts to put a lid on the size of corporations, and incentivize them to actually create products that the public needs. A good example was the tax incentive given to big pharma in the '60's and '70's to build plants in Puero Rico. We need to make it worth while to actually build something and not worthwhile to produce paper profits out of thin air(can you say credit default swaps?) China is in the black because they make stuff. We have a huge need for a rebuilt infrastructure, power grid, energy alternatives etc. How 'bout we give Americans tax breaks to do that?

[quote=navet]

As soon as I hear the word LIBERAL or SOCIALIST, I know that the speaker is a narrow minded idiot. Many of the issues the speaker is talking about were caused during the CONSERVATIVE administration. Remember, any idiot can complain.

[/quote]

I guess this would be too narrow minded for you as well...

A Republican and a Democrat were walking down the street together and came to a homeless man. The Republican gave the homeless man his business card and told him to come to his office for a job. He then took $20 out of his pocket and gave it to the homeless man. The Democrat was impressed, so when they came to another homeless man, he stepped forward to help. The Democrat gave the homeless man directions to the welfare office, then reached into the Republican's pocket and got out another $20. The Democrat kept $15 for administrative costs and gave the homeless man $5.

Why do you think the government can create and manage socialist programs better then the private sector? If the government actually had to answer to shareholders (the voters that for whatever reason do not relate the fact of tax dollars=ownership) the US would blow through circuit breakers all the way down because the bears would short the shit outta this place. Fundamentally this country is fiscally reckless and on a path to financial degradation.

I anxiously await the CEO of this country to go "line by line with a scalpel" through our budget...

Not quite accurate of a quote. The republican said "get out of my way you loser. And don't come around here for a job since I can hire 10 Chinese for what it would cost to hire one of you. In fact I'm going to have you thrown in jail for vagrancy". Then he said solong to his Democrat neighbor and went to his bible study.

It's Bible.  With a capital B.  And just so you know, without the Bible, religion, and the founding father's use of both in the formation of our government, you probably wouldn't be having this discussion about our great country and it's future.  Because it wouldn't be here and you'd be having fish and chips for dinner.  

It's Mexican's not Chinese.  We're not building railroads anymore.  The Chinese have moved on to become business owners.  Ironic huh. 

The republican had no choice but to hire the Chinese/Mexicans, because they will do the job that those folks who put the democrat in office refuse to do.  They'd rather sit around collecting unemployment, social security checks, or food stamps and get the church that the republican attends to pay for their electric bill.  The Chinese/Mexican worker, meanwhile, takes the money he EARNS!!!!! from actually working, buys food, clothes, TVs, radios, and Margaritas/Saki plus puts a little aside for the day when he can afford to start his own business where he will hire 10 other Mexicans/Chinese folks just like him so they can start the cycle all over again. 

The problem with the progressive/democrat/socialist/marxist mindset is the entitlement issue.  See, you folks keep calling things like healthcare, your home, your job, and food a right as a US citizen.  You therefore think it is the responsibility of the government to give you those rights.  Well, I just took a look at our Constitution (on my phone), and I can't find any of those things anywhere.  So evidently it's not the government's job to give me all of those things.  I have a lot of rights, mostly protecting me FROM my government, but those things I listed aren't included.  So, why are my tax dollars being used to fund them?